Philanthropy In AAction: A Blog of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy

Strong roots, lasting vision

Like the branches of the cedar tree for which the country is famous, the Lebanese diaspora has spread far and wide. An estimated 15-20 million Lebanese live outside the country, dwarfing Lebanon’s population of 4.3 million. Many of the diaspora have met with great success, and have also given back to society through various philanthropic initiatives.

Famous Columbian-Lebanese musician Shakira fulfilled a youthful promise to help underprivileged children in her home country by starting the Piez Descalzos Fundación in 1997, which provides education and meals to over 4000 students. She has also supported various social causes around the world through various charity concerts.

The world’s richest man, Mexican-Lebanese Carlos Slim, is also one of the world’s biggest givers. In 2011, he contributed $4 billion to his foundation, Fundación Carlos Slim Helú. The foundation’s programs address a range of education, health, and economic development issues.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the number one children’s hospital in the U.S., was founded by two Lebanese Americans: television producer Danny Thomas and car salesman Anthony Abraham. Although both are now deceased, their work lives on through the life-saving work of St. Jude.

These examples represent members of the Lebanese diaspora that have decided to give back through strategic charitable initiatives. We look forward to discovering the ways the far-flung Arab diaspora community will continue to affect social change.

TGI Members make site visits to Metro Detroit education and health nonprofits

Members of CAAP’s Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI) recently visited two of their potential grantee organizations. Site visits are a great opportunity for the youth to learn more about the health and educational programs they are considering funding in 2013. Student Leadership Services is a youth-led initiative that trains students in school-based health initiatives. The Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the Grandmont Rosedale communities of northwest Detroit by organizing a wide range of community improvement programs. Thank you to our hosts for being generous with their time and resources - the youth had a great experience, and are looking forward to revealing their grantmaking decisions in the coming weeks!

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April is Arab American Heritage Month

Arab immigrants and their descendants have made important contributions to the growth of this country. As doctors and scientists, engineers, bankers, teachers, entrepreneurs and entertainers – and so much more – Arab contributions and heritage are woven inextricably into the fabric of American society. Arab American Heritage Month presents a great opportunity to celebrate and recognize the achievements of Arab Americans throughout our history.

The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), founded in 2006 to develop, support and enhance a culture of giving within the Arab American community, is the only national, full-service philanthropic institution in the Arab American community. Through education, asset-building and grantmaking, CAAP supports and celebrates Arab American philanthropy, giving Arab Americans the ability to leverage our giving in support of the issues, causes and organizations we care passionately about.

We encourage you to learn more about Khalil Gibran, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Zainab Salbi, and the many other Arab Americans who are making an impact. Our sister organization, the Arab American National Museum, is a great resource for learning more about Arab Americans’ contributions to U.S. society. Happy Arab American Heritage Month!

Celebrate with us at ACCESS’ 42nd Anniversary Dinner on April 27! We’ll be honoring Diane Rehm and Dr. Marwan Abouljoud as Arab Americans of the Year!

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Engaging minorities through social justice philanthropy

Part of our CAAPtivating Reads series by Katherine Hanway, CAAP Donor Services and Program Officer

In preparation for World Day of Social Justice on Feb. 20, CAAP suggests you read a new report from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), titled “Real Results: Why Strategic Philanthropy is Social Justice Philanthropy.” The report argues that strategic and impactful philanthropy must look at prioritizing and engaging underserved communities because “by and large, philanthropists do not invest at significant levels with the explicit intention of benefitting underserved and marginalized communities.” How can foundations and individuals make their giving more strategic? The authors of NCRP’s report – Niki Jagpal and Kevin Laskowski – challenge grantmakers and philanthropists to take a social justice approach through doing the following:

Make your philanthropy truly impactful by combing strategic giving* with social justice**. In other words, have clear goals and measurable impact for your giving, while also prioritizing and empowering underserved communities and focusing on social and systematic change.
Create structural change by funding advocacy, community organizing, civic engagement and other related activities.
Increase grant dollars benefitting marginalized communities, especially in the areas of arts and culture, environment, education, and health. For example, the report points out that regardless of socioeconomic status, students with exposure to the arts are more likely to graduate high school and attend college.
Mobilize grassroots organizations that work with and on behalf of underserved groups.
Provide the type of support that organizations need. For example, many organizations report a strong need for general operating and multi-year funding, but grantmakers for the most part prefer to fund project support.
Continue to evaluate the impact of your philanthropy. Solicit feedback from your grantees to learn how you’re making a difference and how you can improve.

The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) can help you be more strategic with your giving to Arab Americans and other minority communities. Contact us to learn more, and also view our 2013 Request for Proposals to learn about our current general operating support grant opportunity for Arab American organizations focusing on social justice issues. Follow along with us Feb. 20 on Twitter for #SocialJusticeDay.

*Strategic philanthropy means to have clearly defined goals and strategies to achieve those goals, as well as looking at who benefits from your philanthropy and how.

** Foundation Center’s definition of social justice philanthropy is “the granting of philanthropic contributions to nonprofit organizations based in the United States and other countries that work for structural change in order to increase the opportunity of those who are the least well off politically, economically and socially.” What distinguishes this field of philanthropy from others is that it addresses the core causes of injustices, rather than symptoms.

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The future of philanthropy is diverse

How will America’s growing diversity contribute to the future of philanthropy? A new report commissioned by New Ventures in Philanthropy, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and the Council on Foundations Community Foundation Leadership Team addresses the ways that America’s growing diversity will contribute to the future of philanthropy. A selection of the trends include:

1) An increase in racial and ethnic diversity across communities

Mainstream philanthropy will need to adjust to needs of varied populations
Creates potential for community-based giving pools, many who may have their own giving traditions rooted in their heritage

2) A growth in high-wealth donors of color

Drives creation of identity-based funds
The philanthropy sector as a whole will need to identify and reach new high-wealth communities of color, or risk losing influence
These donors will be poised to create solutions in their own communities - formerly thought of as “needy”

3) Diaspora philanthropy will thrive

Foreign-born Americans seek to support relations “back home”
Aggregates to $50-$100 billion each year
Community foundations and other strategic giving vehicles will seek to accommodate diaspora giving

4) Diversified faith-based giving, with strategic Muslim philanthropy becoming more prominent

Across all religions, more active clusters of faith-based donors
Niche institutions will support these donors

The rest of the trends are available in Donors of the Future: 12 Key Trends and What They Mean for the New Giving Landscape. CAAP is committed to serving the needs of our diverse constituency through a variety of giving vehicles. Visit our website to learn more.

Now accepting proposals for our 2013 Operational Support Grant Program

The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) is seeking proposals for its 2013 grantmaking program. A total of $53,000 will be granted to Arab American organizations working for social justice and other issues.

Grants up to $7,000 each will be awarded to Arab American community organizations seeking general operating support. CAAP will put priority this year on organizations actively working to address social justice issues (equal, fair treatment and portrayal) of Arab Americans through various programs including advocacy, arts and culture, human rights, community organizing, civic engagement, economic development, educational reform and access, healthcare access, housing and shelter, and other areas.

Download the grant application here.

Funds for this year’s grantmaking are made available through the contributions of CAAP’s Professional Advisory Board , as well as other individual donors.

CAAP is the only national Arab American philanthropic support organization in the United States. It builds on the tradition of Arab American giving by working with donors to invest their charitable dollars in organizations and programs making the greatest impact.

Click here for more information.

Photo courtesy CAAP grantee Alif Institute

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I am a Philanthropist: Diverse Voices in Giving

The D5 Coalition’s latest film features an array of donors from the Midwest U.S. who embody populations that have been underrepresented in the world of philanthropy. We are very proud that CAAP Board Member Wadad Abed was chosen to participate as an Arab American philanthropist. Thanks to D5 and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors for funding CAAP this past year and for all the hard work they are doing to promote equity, inclusion and diversity in philanthropy!

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CAAP & NNAAC partner to strengthen Arab American civil society

AAANY youth organizer registering people to vote for 2012 elections

The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) and the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) are pleased to announce they will be granting $45,000 to three NNAAC member organizations that were highly engaged in the 2012 elections, thanks to a grant from the Ford Foundation. The grants will serve as matching funds for the Arab American Action Network (AAAN) of Chicago, the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY) and the Arab Cultural & Community Center (ACCC) of San Francisco to hire field organizers. These new staff positions will allow the three organizations an opportunity to bring their advocacy and civic engagement work to the next level.

NNAAC’s Advocacy and Civic Engagement Program (ACE) is a key aspect of the Network’s mission – to provide assistance and opportunities for Network members to build their capacity and engage in advocacy and civic engagement activities and campaigns. In 2013, NNAAC’s ACE work will focus on immigrant rights, equal access to education for all, support for vital social service programs, and on an ending to racial profiling.

As part of CAAP’s 2013 goals, we are expanding our grantmaking to support Arab American organizations actively working to increase the social justice (equal, fair treatment and representation) of Arab Americans through various programs including advocacy, immigrant rights, community-organizing, and civic engagement.

CAAP and NNAAC are pleased to support these excellent grassroots organizations as they continue to perform critical social justice work on the ground. You can learn more about CAAP’s grantmaking by visiting our website, and you can keep up with NNAAC’s advocacy and civic engagement work on its blog.

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TGI is giving up to $5,000 to organizations that provide education and health services for Detroit area youth

The Teen Grantmaking Initiative (TGI), a project of the Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP), today announced its 2013 request for proposals from organizations that serve young people in metro Detroit. TGI will award grants of between $1,000 and $2,000 to nonprofits that address educational success or improved health outcomes for youth in the community.

The 2013 request for proposals can be found online at www.centeraap.org.

This will be the second round of grant-making conducted by TGI, the only Arab American youth philanthropy program in the United States. Last year, the group awarded grants totaling $4,600 to 12 organizations. Some of the programs they funded target HIV and teen pregnancy prevention, develop life skills for teen mothers, and provide after-school tutoring and sports programs for low-income students.

“Last year we conducted a needs assessment among youth in the community,” said Rasha Khanafer, 16, TGI youth chair. “Based on the results of the needs assessment, we decided to focus our current grantmaking on supporting the academic success of youth and meeting the health needs of youth. We are excited about impacting the lives of youth in our community through these program areas.”

Launched by CAAP in 2011, TGI is a group of 20 high school students committed to making an impact in their communities through fund-raising, grant-making and community service.

“The group was formed to make a lasting impact on local youth by deepening their understanding of philanthropy and community service, and by nurturing the future generation of leaders making a difference in their community,” said Jamie Kim, TGI adult advisor.

“The youth have worked hard this past year learning about the issues impacting youth in their communities,” said Kim. “Through the process of grant-making, youth gain valuable skills in nonprofit program management, consensus building and grant review.”

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2012 Holiday Gift Guide

Some of the best holiday gifts are the ones that keep on giving. That’s what happens when you use your gift-giving as a way to support nonprofit organizations. With that in mind, in this Holiday Gift Guide we highlight our 2012 grantee partners. You can support their important work by giving great gifts that friends and family are sure to treasure.

1) Favorite Arabic Foods Cookbook from the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY)

AAANY’s Adult Education ESL and pre-GED programs are proud to present their Favorite Arabic Foods cookbook, a collection of favorite recipes, food artwork and memories of cooking. Over the course of the summer, members of the class contributed a great deal of time, effort and expertise to produce the book, which features over 80 pages of delicious recipes and beautiful designs by Razan Tayeh. At every level of English-language learning, from beginning literacy through advanced conversation, students honed their English skills by writing recipes, telling stories about learning to cook, and teaching about national food traditions in Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine and Jordan. Buy one here for $25 and support AAANY’s Adult Education programming.

2) DVDs of films featured at the Arab Film Festival (AFF) and the Boston Palestine Film Festival (BPFF)

Rough Hands tells the story of Mustapha, a forty-year-old barber in Casablanca. His clients are retired high-ranking government officials and power brokers. On the side, Mustapha has an underground business “facilitating” paperwork, using his privileged access to grease the wheels of bureaucracy. The film debuted in California this year at the AFF.

Habibi, a story of forbidden love, is the first fiction feature set in Gaza in 15 years. Two Palestinian students in the West Bank are forced to return home to Gaza, where their love defies tradition. To reach his lover Layla, Qays grafittis poetry across town. Habibi is a modern re-telling of the famous ancient Sufi parable Majnun Layla and premiered in Boston this year with the BPFF.

3) Al-Bustan’s 2013 Concert Series

Philadelphia-based Al-Bustan annually features internationally acclaimed guest artists performing with their resident takht music ensemble led by Music Director Hanna Khoury. In February, the ensemble will showcase original work from Kinan Abou-afach, a Syrian-born cellist and composer. The music will be augmented by artwork from Kevork Mourad, a Syrian visual artist. Tickets for this event and others can be purchased here for $30. Al-Bustan is also selling beautiful handmade coasters with their logo. Available by contacting them here.

We are so proud to partner with all of our 2012 grantees and encourage you to support their meaningful work.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the store at our sister organization, the Arab American National Museum, for handcrafted holiday gifts from the Middle East!

2011 Holiday Gift Guide (Philanthropy in AAction)

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